Single Publication

Anvil Fire Activity

Size: 386 acres               Start Date:  August 25, 2023      Point of origin: 8 miles east of Port Orford, OR                           

Containment: 0%           Total personnel: 277

Resources: 9 crews, 3 helicopters, 4 engines, 5 water tenders, 3 pieces of heavy equipment

Fire behavior was minimal yesterday, with primary activity on the northwest side and a small area on the west side at the head of Anvil Creek. These areas were hit heavily with helicopter water drops, totaling 92,320 gallons. Less water was dropped than on Friday because helicopters were rotated to meet pilot rest requirements. The Wildland Fire Modules are on the ground helping direct these bucket drops for accuracy. Much of the work to clear vegetation along Grassy Knob Road is complete. Firefighters, working alongside masticators, are finishing this work to the northwest forest boundary. Interagency Hotshot Crews and the dozer operator made progress on the fireline from Grassy Knob Road south to the fish hatchery on Elk River Road and will continue this work today. Fire managers have been scouting along the northern wilderness boundary for old roadbeds to tie together to create control lines if the fire moves in that direction. They are working closely with the Coos Forest Protective Association and the Coquille Tribe in these efforts. Along McGribble Road south of Elk River Road, fire managers are scouting for opportunities to build or improve alternate control lines in that direction. Structure protection work continues along the Elk River and Sixes River roads. The fire remains north of Red Cedar Creek, east of Anvil Creek, and south of a Dry Creek tributary.

Flat Fire Activity

Size: 34,242 acres             Start Date:  July 15, 2023                Point of origin: 2 miles southeast of Agness, OR

Containment: 75%           Total personnel: 281

Resources: 5 crews, 3 helicopters, 11 engines, 6 water tenders, 6 pieces of heavy equipment

Approximately 70 percent of the suppression repair work is complete on the Flat Fire. Excavator operators continue pulling in dozer line berms on the northeast side. Resource advisors are spreading native seed mix on repaired lines and other areas of disturbance. Firefighters are watching the firelines and cooling hot spots as they are identified. Interior pockets of vegetation continue to burn out.

Weather: A weak cold front moving into the area tonight will lower temperatures and improve humidity recoveries.

Smoke: Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ for current smoke and air quality updates. Depending on wind direction, smoke may be visible from Port Orford and residences along Elk River Road.

Closures: U.S. Highway 199 has been reopened to all traffic using a pilot car system north of Gasquet to the Oregon border in California. Local law enforcement cautions against any non-essential traffic along this route. Expect 20-40 minute delays. Navigation apps and mapping programs may not have updated and accurate information. Check www.tripcheck.com in Oregon and www.quickmap.dot.ca.go in California for current closures and detours. Do not use forest roads for alternate routes. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) has issued closure orders in the areas of the Flat and Anvil fires. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts

Evacuations: Level 1 “Get Ready” evacuation status is in place for areas near the Flat Fire. Level 2 “Get Set“ evacuation status is in place along the Elk River from about milepost four to the USFS Butler Bar Campground near the Anvil Fire. Sign up for Curry Co. emergency alerts at https://bit.ly/CurryCoEM.

Restrictions: The RRSNF decreased fire danger from Extreme to High and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level from Level 3 to Level 2, effective Sept. 5, 2023. Public Use Restrictions (PUR) remain at Stage 3 across the forest and on the Wild Section of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River. Visit https://bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts for more information. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire areas. Please do not fly unmanned aircraft (drones) in the fire vicinity. If you fly, we can't.